SINGAPORE. 417 



On holidays they are to be met with in their snow-white raiment, 

 thrown over a richly-embroidered coloured vest, fitting tight to the 

 body, with loose trousers, tied just to meet their embroidered slippers 

 at the ankle. 



The Malay population dwell chiefly in the suburbs, or what are 

 termed the Malay villages. Their houses are built somewhat after 

 the fashion heretofore described, on posts, as practised by this race in 

 other places ; but there are many who conform to the European 

 mode. Nearly all of them are cultivators, and almost every house 

 has a small shelf appended to its window, on which unhulled rice 

 (known here as paddy) is exposed for sale. Besides this, many have 

 dried fish, vegetables, and, in these days of rejoicing, Chinese fire- 

 crackers. The villages through which we drove had a joyous look, 

 and the population was apparently occupied in amusing themselves 

 during the holidays. Some were engaged at foot-ball, and many of 

 the boys and men were playing "hobscob." 



The most distinguished men as to looks are the Armenians, who 

 are among the principal merchants of the place. Although few in 

 number, yet they have much influence from their wealth ; they are 

 an exceedingly handsome race, dress after the English fashion, and 

 generally speak English or the Portuguese fluently. Some of them, 

 that I had occasion to visit, were extremely courteous, but spoke of 

 the inhabitants of Singapore generally as of a low class. 



The Armenian church is one of the finest buildings in the place : 

 service is held in their church every morning at six o'clock. 



Just before our arrival, one of the Armenians was detected in an 

 extensive forgery, by the water-mark of the paper. It had not been 

 decided what punishment was to be inflicted upon him, and it was 

 an act of which the government was not prepared to take cognizance. 

 From what I heard, I was inclined to believe that the influence of his 

 friends was so great, that by their intercession the punishment that is 

 so ready at all times to be inflicted on the poor, would not be inflicted ; 

 yet even-handed justice to all is here made a great boast of. 



Parsees are not numerous at Singapore, but they rank among the 

 most wealthy of its inhabitants. They are dressed partly after the 

 Eastern and partly after the European fashion. They excited our 

 attention as being worshippers of fire, which they venerate as emble- 

 matical of the Deity. They are of various shades of colour, and 

 generally more robust and portly than the other races. Many of them 

 speak the English language. 



VOL. V. 105 



